Honestly, “diminished value” is the sneaky one that catches a lot of folks off guard. Your buddy’s story isn’t rare out here—those backroads can do a number on a rental car. I’ve seen people save a few bucks and regret it later when something weird pops up on the bill. Sometimes that extra coverage just buys peace of mind, especially with Montana wildlife doing their thing.
Honestly, “diminished value” is the sneaky one that catches a lot of folks off guard.
That’s spot on—diminished value claims can really surprise people, especially when you think you’re covered and then get hit with something unexpected. I’ve seen cases where even a minor fender bender leads to a hefty bill because of how rental companies assess loss of value. Montana’s roads and wildlife just add more unpredictability. Sometimes those extra few dollars for coverage end up saving a lot of hassle down the line, even if it feels like overkill at the counter.
Sometimes those extra few dollars for coverage end up saving a lot of hassle down the line, even if it feels like overkill at the counter.
- Rented a car in Montana last year. Thought I was being clever skipping the extra insurance.
- Hit a deer. Not even a big one—just enough to dent the hood and my ego.
- Rental company hit me with “diminished value” fees I’d never even heard of.
- My wallet still hasn’t forgiven me... sometimes that “overkill” is just self-preservation.
- My wallet still hasn’t forgiven me...
That “diminished value” fee is wild—never even heard of that before. I always figured my regular car insurance would cover most things, but now I’m second-guessing. Has anyone actually had their own insurance step in and handle those weird extra charges from a rental? Or do they usually just leave you hanging with the bill? I’ve got a family road trip planned this summer and now I’m wondering if it’s worth the peace of mind to just pay up front...
Title: Rental Car Insurance in Montana—Worth the Extra Cash or Nah?
I’ve been down this rabbit hole for the last week, trying to figure out if my regular insurance is enough for a rental. The “diminished value” thing totally caught me off guard too. Like, I get that if you scratch up a car, it’s worth less, but I didn’t realize they could just bill you for that on top of repairs. It feels kinda sneaky, honestly.
I called my insurance company (after way too much Googling), and apparently, my policy covers collision and liability on rentals, but the rep was super vague about these extra fees. She said something like, “We handle most charges, but you should check with the rental company for exclusions.” Super helpful, right? Not.
The thing is, I’m planning my first family road trip to Glacier this summer, and the idea of getting stuck with some random $1,000 fee for “loss of use” or whatever… yeah, not my idea of vacation memories. My brother-in-law swears by using his credit card for rentals because it has some sort of secondary coverage, but then I read the fine print and it doesn’t cover everything either.
Has anyone actually had their own insurance swoop in and pay those weird fees? Or do they just say “not our problem” and leave you to deal with the rental company? I’m leaning toward just paying for the Loss Damage Waiver at the counter, even though it feels like highway robbery. Is it overkill? Or is that just the price of sleeping well on vacation?
I keep thinking, maybe nothing will happen and I’ll have wasted my money. But then again… it’s always when you skip the extra coverage that something dumb happens. Anyone else feel like they’re just rolling dice with this stuff?